Zhang Sheng: Why Chinese Netizens Call Palestinian Fighters “Dandelions”

After October 7th, Israel’s embassy in China launched an aggressive campaign to sway public opinion—but it backfired. From spreading misinformation about hostages to enlisting foreign embassies for support, their efforts only fueled stronger pro-Palestinian sentiment online. Chinese netizens quickly exposed false claims, forcing Israeli and Western embassies to shut down their comment sections.

In From Global Anti-Imperialism to the Dandelion Fighters, Zhang Sheng explores why China’s stance on Palestine remains firm and how young people are shaping the conversation.